Bag-catcher for postal cars



(No Mode 1. v

T. E. HENDRICKS.

' "BAG GATGHBR FUR POSTAL CARS.

No. 597,061. Patented Jan 11,1898.

UNITED STATES PATENT @rrrcn.

THURN E. HENDRICKS, OE AUSTIN, ARKANSAS.

BAG-CATCHER FOR POSTAL CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 597,061, dated January 11, 1898.

Application filed July 16, 1897. fierial No. 6%4 85'7. (No model.)

To all whom zit may concern:

Be it known that I, THURN E. HENDRICKS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Austin, in the county of Lonoke and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bag=atchers for Postal Cars; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had tc the annexed drawings, making a part of the specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The cord and button to be used with this machine consists of a cord and button, the cord passing through two holes near the center of the button and hanging in a loop which is to be looped around the center or at either end of the mail-sack, but which is not claimed herein.

Figure 1 is'a vertical View of the post and mail car as though you were above looking downward, with the machinery attached in position to take and leave the mail. Fig. 2 represents thepostal-car door with the cardoor arm with its guides, semicircular safetyspring, lifting-cord and its pulley, and the long catch-spring all in position as they will be when taking and leaving the mail. Fig. 3 represents the post with its two arms, guides, and semicircular safety-spring in position as they will be when in use delivering and catching the mail.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The rod A, Fig. 2, is a rod extending across the outside of the car-door B, in the center of which is firmly attached the arm a, and has a turn D at each end so arranged as to catch against the side of the car and prevent arm 0 from passing a perpendicular upward and inward or a horizontal downward.

The arm 0 extends at right angles from the rod A and has firmly attached the small rods or guides E E, which pass across arm 0 near tached to the mail-sack and to support and hold the button attached to said cord.

The safety-spring F is in semicircular form and is attached to arm 0 back of the intersection of the rods E E with its point resting upon arm G above the outer rod E, and is movable to either side of arm 0 and is used by placing its point upon the button attached to the cord attached to the mail-sack to be left.

The cord G consists of a cord attached near the end of arm C and passes through the pulley H at the top of the car-door, and is used by the messenger inside to lower and raise arm 0. Y

The long spring I is a spring attached to the top of the car-door on the outside and bends inward and is out half away to form a catch for the top of arm 0, and the other half extends downward to form a handle for the purpose of raising it to liberate said arm C. Its use is to automatically catch and hold the top of arm 0 in a vertical position, while the messenger places the mail to be left and takes off the mail received and to hold it in that position while not in use.

The post J, Fig. 3, has the two arms K, one directly above the other, and through the ends of each passes at right angles the small rods or guides E E. The small rods or guides E E in lower arm K are parallel to each other and about one inch apart at their intersection with arm K and widened at the ends to serve as guides to the cord attached to the mail-sack to be left, and said rods or guides E E on lower arm K have each on either side of said arm a double bend forming a square shoulder or back stop L L, and their use is to catch and hold the button attached to the cord which is attached to the mail-sack to be left and prevent the backward swing from causing it to slip and the saclr to fall.

The small rods E E in the upper arm K are used to hold the button of the cord attached to the mail-sack to be taken.

The small safety-spring E is in SGIIllQllCll lar form and similar in every respect to spring F on arm 0, and its use is to place its point upon the button of the cord attached to the sack to be taken and prevent the wind irom causing it to slip and the sack to fall.

The whole combination takes and leaves the mail in the following manner: The button of the cord to which the mail-sack to be taken is attached is placed upon the upper rods E E of Fig. 3, with the cord hanging between the upper rods E E and also the lower rods E E on the side away from the approaching train, placing the point of spring F with a Very small hold on the button. The messenger when the mail-car approaches the post places the button attached to the cord attached to the mail-sack to be left on the rods E E on arm G backward from the direction the train is moving with the cord between them and the button toward him and places spring F. Arm 0, with a slight hold upon the button raises the long spring I and lowers arm 0 by means of cord G to a horizontal, where it is caught and held by turn D. The small rods or guides E E on arm 0 are made to pass directly between the small rods E E on the upper and lower arms K, Fig. 3, when the mail is taken and left at the same instant. The

messenger then raises arm 0 by means of cord G to a vertical position, where arm 0 is held by the long spring I while the messenger takes in the mail.

I clairn 1. A bag-catcher for postal cars comprising a rod adapted to be placed across the car-door and an arm 0, the former having a turn at each end arranged to engage the side of the car for the purpose set forth.

2. A bag-catcher for postal cars comprising an arm 0, guides E E and spring F, the spring attached to arm 0 back of the small rods or guides E E with its point resting over the outer small rod E and made to swing to either side of arm 0 for the purpose set forth.

3. In a bag-catcher for postal cars the combinationof the long spring I and catcher-arm O, the spring fastened on the outside of the top of the car-door and bent inward and out half away to form a catch for arm C and the remaining part extending downward to form a handle by which it may be raised, for the purpose set forth.

4. A bag-catcher for postal cars comprising the combination of the lower arm K and the two rods or guides E E, each of the latter having a double bend on either side of arm K forming a square shoulder or back stop L L. for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses. I

THURN E. HENDRICKS.

lVitnesses:

W. H. LEWIS, A. G. APPLE. 

